Religious trauma still haunts millions of LGBTQ Americans
www.nbcnews.com
Some mental health experts are advocating for religious trauma to be considered an official disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Swift-Godzisz is among the 1 in 3 adults in the United States who have suffered from religious trauma at some point in their life, according to a 2023 study published in the Socio-Historical Examination of Religion and Ministry Journal. That same study suggests up to 1 in 5 U.S. adults currently suffer from major religious trauma symptoms.

Religious trauma occurs when an individual’s religious upbringing has lasting adverse effects on their physical, mental or emotional well-being, according to the Religious Trauma Institute. Symptoms can include guilt, shame, loss of trust and loss of meaning in life. While religious trauma hasn’t officially been classified as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), there is debate among psychiatrists about whether that should change.

Experts say LGBTQ people — who represent more than 7% of the U.S. population, according to a 2023 Gallup poll — experience religious trauma at disproportionate rates and in unique ways. Very little research has been done in this field, but a 2022 study found that LGBTQ people who experience certain forms of religious trauma are at increased risk for suicidality, substance abuse, homelessness, anxiety and depression. And as political animus toward the LGBTQ community intensifies ahead of the 2024 presidential election, many queer people say their pain is resurfacing.

  • captainlezbian@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    9 months ago

    I’ll add here, I’m not an atheist and I have religious trauma. Don’t confine yourself to those who are hostile to religion or you wind up with a narrow view of the damage done and preselect a solution.

    Atheism to sufferers of religious trauma is an extremely healthy first step, and an extremely healthy final step, but it doesn’t need to be either or both.

    When you introduce the concept of religious trauma, some, especially those in an abuser-victim state will look to this as an attempt to dissuade them from any religion, and it’s fine to try to do that, I personally dislike proselytization of any form, but regardless, they won’t be open to reevaluating their relationship with their beliefs, including the ones actively harming them. I don’t personally care if the victims leave religion entirely or even the general religion. If we can make people who are perpetuating the cycle of abuse through their religion reevaluate and stop that’s what I want.